Plant Suggestions?

I have a spot that needs a plant. It gets mostly sun with a bit of shade. I'm in zone 9A.
I sort of have a mounding type plant in mind... nothing that gets tall. One that flowers of course and evergreen would be nice. It can have a spread of 3-5 foot (possibly more).
I have 3 Lantanas already, and although I do like them, I want something different.
I've done the plant search here and found one that is a likely candidate "Shrimp Plant"... but I'm not so sure I can find one easily here.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks Toni... some of them look pretty close to what I have in mind. I may just have to take a trip to the nursery to see if they have any of these available.

 

Will do... and who knows... maybe there's some on the markdown rack!

 

If you are wanting a medium sized bush you could try the Philadelphus coronarius 'Variegatus'. It has wonderful flowers that will becoming out very soon and once they are gone, you have a nice little bush with green and white (or sometimes yellow) leaves.

A low bush with purple blooms (they look like the blooms of the Phacelia) in mid-late summer is the Caryopteris clandonensis.

You didn't specify it the plant should be an annual or perennial, so I'm not sure what to offer as a suggestion.

If you want an annual, you could always plant a stand of phacelia to fill that plot. The bees and butterflies love it.

A perennial choice would be a Cistus. There are many different sorts--white or pink.

A Penstemon would look well there also. Of all the Penstemons I find the Penstemon'Catherine de la Mare' by far the most delicate and beautiful (but of course that is just my taste).

If you wanted to use Monarda's there then I would suggest combining colours.

A low maintenance plant sort are the Hemerocallis, or Daylily. There are so many different sorts of these in so many colours. Whew--you can find one that you like, I am sure.

The Knautia Macedonica. This wine-coloured flowering plant lasts all summer.

Finally one of the Rudbekia's or Echinacea's.

Gosh, Cheryl--there are so many choices. Good luck deciding Having an open place is a real luxury.

 

Thanks Toni and Sjoerd. All lovely suggestions!
I took almost a 2 hour lunch break today. Visited two of the small local nurseries. One of which I've never been to. Nice place. Very helpful staff. And they had a nice "extra" variety of plants. Not just "the usual stuff".
Didn't find any of the things on Toni's list. But at least had a clue what to look for. Almost picked up a couple of different plants... but they weren't exactly what I had in mind. Afterall, what's the hurry... it's just a hole waiting to have something besides a weed planted in it, right?!

Then I stopped by that "other Lowes". I don't know how two big box nationwide stores can be so different! This one seems so unorganized. And the staff aren't friendly at all. Again, I almost picked out something, but set it back on the rack and went back to work.
I did jot down a couple of plant names to look up when I got back to the office to see if they'd work for me.
Then it hit me! I'm going about this whole thing all wrong!
What I should do, is first... go the garden center and see what's available and THEN look up info... not the other way around! DUH!
So, on my way home I stopped at my "regular" Lowes to see what was there. Wasn't going to rush into anything. But, I'd already put in over 2 hours looking at plants and just couldn't come home to that hole empty handed!
So, I didn't get exactly what I had in mind... but oh well... I liked it.
It's the Red Autumn Sage.


plant tag ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )



Thanks Sjoerd for you suggestions also.
I can tell you that I only remember seeing a few of the plants you mentioned.
Daylilies (which were so very tempting, but I've got a separate bed for them), and the Rudbekia's or Echinacea's (which I also have growing in another bed).
One day I'm going to find the perfect nursery that just has everything I want and need right there waiting for me!
Thanks again for the help... I'm jotting down the names in my notebook for future reference.

 

That autumn sage sure is a good choice, Cheryl. That thing ought to really stand out and attract insects as well.
Well done.

 

Thanks Sjoerd.... I'm looking forward to seeing it fill out like the photo on the tag!